Photography is more accessible than ever, thanks to the proliferation of digital cameras, camera phones and applications like Instagram and Camera+, which enable anyone to be a photographer. And with the onslaught of social media networks, distribution has never been easier.

But is all of this technology making us better photographers? How has the medium evolved over the past decade? While the tools have certainly changed, photography's power to communicate and tell stories remains.

A new local, independent organization, Medium, has dedicated itself to foster awareness and understanding of innovative photography within Southern California. One of the biggest ways the organization is carrying out its mission is through an annual festival, which kicks off tomorrow, Thursday, September 6.

The inaugural Medium Festival of Photography, a three-day photography event celebrating all forms of photography, from fine art to documentary and photojournalism, will provide photographers — both amateur and professional — and photo enthusiasts with events and opportunities to talk shop, share their work and forge a network. From workshops and lectures to open portfolio reviews, Medium hopes to strengthen the local photography community and provide resources for photographers to develop their skills, market themselves and get published.

Featured speakers include San Diego-based photographers Tim Mantoani and Philipp Scholz Rittermann, as well as keynote speaker Alec Soth, known for his shots of rural America and portraits of "loners and dreamers." In 2009, Soth released a photo book, “Last Days of W” (Little Brown Mushroom), documenting "a country exhausted by George W. Bush’s presidency"; the photos were also exhibited at New York City's Gagosian Gallery.

KPBS Midday Edition speaks with Medium founder Scott B. Davis and freelance photojournalist Sam Hodgson about the state of photography today and this weekend's event.

Related Content

Please stay on topic and be as concise as possible. Leaving a comment means you agree to our Community Discussion Rules. We like civilized discourse. We don't like spam, lying, profanity, harassment or personal attacks.